NORWAY — It’s a race to the finish at Norway Speedway as all its track champions are set to be decided on Sunday, Sept. 1. Racing starts at 4 p.m. and is being sponsored by the Dickinson County Fair and Island Resort & Casino.

The event will feature a 100 lap late model race that pays $1,000 to the winner. There will also be an on-track pit stop at Lap 50 where the leader will receive a $1,000 bonus courtesy of Auto Value Auto Parts stores. The Coca-Cola Late Model Championship will be decided in that race.

Norway’s Joey Pontbriand pretty much has a lock on his first ever Coca-Cola Late Model Championship. This may come as a surprise to some, but not to all. He will also be the first driver to win an Auto Value Super Stock Championship and move up to the late model division, and get that championship as well.

Currently, Pontbriand is 53 points ahead of defending track champion Scott Stanchina of Kingsford. With the structure of our points system a good run by Pontbriand in qualifying could solidify the championship.

The 36-year-old Pontbriand is a 20-year veteran of the sport and has two Auto Value Super Stock Championships and one Cup Championship on his resume already. This will be his first Coca-Cola Late Model Championship, if all goes well.

The real points battle will be the fight for runner up. A friendly rivalry has developed between defending track champion Scott Stanchina and Cory Cootware. Both drivers are from Kingsford and only seven points separates them.

In the Auto Value Super Stock division, Ryan Wender, of Upper Pine Creek, Wis., is in basically the same situation as Pontbriand concerning championship points with a 55-point lead over Marquette’s Jeremy Yelle.

Wender is driving a car that is crewed by Mike Pontbriand and the Pontbriand Motorsports team. Wender has not disappointed anyone with his driving ability as he has been consistent and patient all season long. He has won three feature events this season. This will be his third track championship if everything goes as planned.

Yelle has enjoyed his best season ever in Norway and is currently 16 points ahead of Hermansville’s Dean Bellmore and 18 points ahead of Lukas Peterson, from Marinette, Wis. How those three end up could be very interesting.

In the 141 Auto Stock Car division the Championship points race is very different from the Coca-Cola Late Model and Auto Value Super Stock battles. This is the ninth year that the championship will be decided by not only the final evening of racing, but the final race.

Currently, Gary Thom of Aurora, Wis., is sitting on top of the point chart with a slim nine-point margin over Menominee’s Travis Hulsizer. Behind Hulsizer is three-time champion Joe Ostermann of Norway. This one is going to be a nail biter for all involved. Neither Hulsizer or Thom have ever won a Championship.

In the Whelen Fab 4 division Kingsford’s Eli Whittkopf has a lock on his first championship with a 77-point lead over Kingsford’s Zach Hanson. Hanson who recently finished first in championship points at Marquette’s Sands Speedway is enjoying his best season ever, but mathematically is unable to win the Norway Speedway Championship. Cassandra Freeman, of Niagara, Wis., is currently an impressive third in championship points and has a 19-point lead over Hermansville’s Tyler Plunger. Escanaba’s Mike Frame is 13 points behind Plunger.

Several top drivers that will be at the Bob Iverson Memorial Championship Race include Wisconsin Racing Legend Lowell Bennett, 2024 WIR Track Champion Tim Baumann, Braison Bennett of Neenah, Wis., Green Bay’s Louis Goss, former Norway Speedway track champion Dan Lindsley will also make his return, and Kingsford’s Mike Lantagne will also return to the Speedway. Escanaba Speedway’s Vintage Modifieds will also have two exhibition races.

The rain date for this event is Monday September 2nd. Qualifying is at 2:30 pm, and racing is at 4 p.m. Grandstand admission is free with your fair ticket and no carry-ins are allowed.